Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore lead Broadway pet adopt-a-thon

Bernadette Peters cuddles Kramer, a 'Heinz 57 variety' mutt from the ASPCA. The star, who said Kramer inspired her new book 'Broadway Barks,' has two shelter dogs.

After 10 years on Broadway, one hit show is still on a roll. There's no line at the box office and the price of admission for this star-studded performance is only a big heart.

Next Saturday, actresses Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore will host the 10th anniversary of Broadway Barks, the dog and cat adopt-a-thon extravaganza held in Shubert Alley, where a cast of dazzling stage stars will share the spotlight with adoptable cats and dogs from dozens of local shelters and animal-rescue groups.

Advertisement

"I want people to know there's joy in adopting and to raise people's awareness of all these wonderful animals in the shelters," said Peters, who shares her New York home with adopted dogs Stella, a pit-bull mix, who came from the city Animal Care & Control shelter, and Kramer, a "Heinz 57 variety" mutt from the ASPCA.

Kramer was the inspiration for Peter's new book, "Broadway Barks," about a scrappy dog lost in Central Park. She will be signing the book at the event.

Peters and Moore, longtime animal advocates, created the event after realizing that star power could help spread their message. Broadway Barks has helped find homes for more than 500 needy animals.

Peters does more for the cause than just lend her star power. The actress regularly takes animals in danger of being euthanized out of the Animal Care and Control shelters, then drives them to other shelters, such as BARC in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Earlier this week, Peters and her assistant Patty rescued a healthy gray pit bull, named Honey, from the Manhattan Animal Care and Control shelter and drove her to Bobbi and the Strays, in Ozone Park, Queens, where she is up for adoption.

The "throwaway mom" - a female dog used to breed puppies and then discarded after she gives birth - was still lactating when she was dumped at the shelter, Peters said.

"It's the saddest thing in the world to have to euthanize these creatures because there is no place to put them," she said.

In New York City, about 70 cats and dogs are killed every day. The number of unwanted animals euthanized at city shelters has dropped dramatically in recent years, thanks in part to rescue groups that take animals out of the Animal Care and Control shelters, which are required by law to take in all strays.

Jane Hoffman, president of the Mayor's Alliance for New York City's Animals, says rescue groups and shelters are stretched to capacity, especially during the summer months, due in large part to the influx of cats and kittens born because people did not spay or neuter their pets.

Part of solving the problem, she said is to raise money for spay and neuter projects so everyone can afford the surgery.

Upper East side veterinarian Dr. Andrew Kaplan is one New Yorker trying to make a difference. His Toby Project (www.tobyproject.org) aims to fund the operation of five mobile vans to provide free spay/neuter services to those communities that supply or surrender the most animals to municipal shelters.

Peters says if the city won't do more to help the animals, then people should. She said, "It's up to us to do our part."

Broadway Barks will take place July 12 in Shubert Alley, between Broadway and Eighth Ave., and 44th and 45th Sts. The festivities begin at 3:30 p.m. Celebrity presentations of pets from citywide animal shelters will take place between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. For information, go to www.broadwaybarks.org.